After reading this article, you will know five easy and fast ways to download YouTube videos on Mac. Apply one of them to save YouTube videos to your Mac and then you can watch offline without an Internet connection.
As the biggest video site in the world, YouTube has a wide range of users who search, view and upload videos every day. However, unlike you can freely view and upload videos on YouTube, you can't download YouTube videos directly on the site. That's why so many users are looking for a way to download YouTube videos to iPhone/iPad, save videos from YouTube to PC, download YouTube videos on Mac, and more.
Given that, here we provide five proven ways to download videos from YouTube to Mac, including using desktop software, online service, and other workable ways. Read on to learn how to download YouTube videos on Mac in different ways and carry out the one best suited to your needs.
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PAGE CONTENT:
- Download YouTube videos to Mac for Free
- Save a Video from YouTube to Mac Online
- Download Videos from YouTube to Mac with Chrome/Firefox
- Get YouTube Videos on Mac with VLC Media Player
- Save YouTube Videos to Mac via Screen Recording
How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac in 5 Ways
Some of the ways below need you to download and install the desktop software, while others may not. Learn them in detail and you will know which one is the best YouTube downloader for you.
Method 1. How to Download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free
100% free, no ads, and no plugins, EaseUS MobiMover is a YouTube downloader that you can use at no cost and without any worries about bothering ads or add-ons. With it, you can download videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, Facebook, Twitter and other sites to your computer (PC/Mac) or mobiles devices (iPhone/iPad).
To download YouTube Videos on Mac for Free:
Step 1.Run EaseUS MobiMover > Go to choose the 'Video Downloader' option on the left side > Choose a location to house the videos you download.
Online Video Downloader For Mac
Step 2. Copy the URL/link of the YouTube video you wish to download, paste it into the download bar of EaseUS MobiMover, then tap 'Download.'
Step 3. Wait for MobiMover to download YouTube videos to your Mac. When it has finished, you can go to your selected location to check the downloaded item.
In addition to video download, MobiMover also has other features that will help you transfer files between two iOS devices or between an iOS device and computer, which will do a great help if you are an iPhone or iPad user. It's a versatile tool that can work as an iOS content manager and free YouTube downloader at the same time. Don't miss it and make it your good helper.
Method 2. How to Save YouTube Videos on Mac Online
Don't want to install any software? If so, you may prefer online YouTube video downloaders compared with desktop software. Honestly speaking, although much convenient, an online YouTube downloader may cause more troubles than a desktop program. According to my own experience, there are some issues that may occur while using an online tool to save YouTube videos on a computer, including:
- Ads keep popping up
- The users are redirected to another shopping site
- The tool can't find the video according to the link
And more. Luckily, not all the online YouTube downloaders are that troubling. Here is Keepvid that works well to get videos from YouTube onto your Mac.
Keepvid is one of the most popular online video downloader that allows you to download YouTube videos on a computer by inserting the video link into the address bar. You will like it if downloading YouTube videos in different formats and quality is what you need. Besides, it also serves the function of an audio converter that will extract music or other audio files from a YouTube video for you.
To download a YouTube video on Mac with Keepvid:
Step 1. Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to download.
Step 2. Visit https://keepv.id/ on your Mac and click the 'Download' button.
Step 3. After an analyzing process, you will see the download options available, including videos in different quality and audio in varying formats. Choose the format and click 'Download' to start downloading YouTube videos to your Mac.
Method 3. Download YouTube Videos for Mac with Chrome/Firefox
Want to download a YouTube video with the browser? If that's exactly what you want, you can't miss the helpful browser extensions shown below, which allow you to save YouTube videos on Mac using Chrome or Firefox for free.
To download videos from YouTube with Chrome:
Step 1. Go to visit YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader.
Step 2. The webpage will detect your browser automatically. Confirm your browser and click 'INSTALL VIA CROSSPILOT'.
Video Download Software For Mac
Step 3. Download and install the extension. Afterward, restart the browser.
Step 4. Go to YouTube and play the video you want to download.
Step 5. Now you should see there is a Download button under the video. Click the Download button to save the YouTube video to your laptop directly or click the three dots next to it to choose other qualities available. (If you don't see the download button, click the icon of the YouTube Video and MP3 Downloader from the menu bar of the browser to download the video.)
To save a YouTube video on Mac with Firefox:
Step 1. Go to add the extension - Easy Youtube Video Downloader Express to Firefox.
Step 2. Restart Firefox.
Step 3. Go to YouTube and play the video you intend to download.
Step 4. Under the video, click the 'Download' button and choose one of the versions (MP4 360p, MP4 720p, MP4 1080p, MP3...) to download.
Of course, there are video download tools for Safari. You can search on the Internet and choose the one you like.
Method 4. Save YouTube Videos to Mac with VLC Media Player
How can you download YouTube videos on your Mac for free? One of the answers is to use the VLC media player. VLC is known as a free and open-source portable cross-platform media player software and streaming media. It also enables you to download a YouTube video on your computer, be it Mac, PC, or laptop.
Step 1. Download and install VLC media player on your Mac and launch the program.
Step 2. Go to YouTube and copy the link of the video you attempt to download.
Step 3. In VLC, choose 'File' > 'Open Network'. In the 'Open Source' window, paste the video URL in the address bar and click 'Open'.
Step 4. Right-click the video and select 'Media Information'.
Step 5. Copy the content in the 'Location' bar and paste the copied URL into the address bar. Then press 'return' to begin to play on your browser.
Step 7. Right-click the video and select 'Save Video as..' to start downloading videos from YouTube to your Mac.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/8/8/118892601/839548272.jpg)
Method 5. Grab Videos from YouTube to Mac with Screen Recording Features
Other than downloading videos from YouTube, you can choose to record the video and save it on your Mac. This method works best when you can't download a YouTube video due to copyright issues or other problems.
To capture the screen, you can either use the built-in screen recording feature in macOS or QuickTime Player.
- To use the built-in screen recording feature: Press Command + Shift + 5.
- To use QuickTime: Choose 'File' in QuickTime and select 'New Screen Recording'.
Common Issues Related to YouTube Video Download
There are some frequently asked questions from users about YouTube video download:
'How do I download YouTube videos to my Mac for free?'
If you have read this article, you know now that all the five methods detailed in this guide enable you to save YouTube videos to Mac for free.
'Can I download a video from YouTube with YouTube Premium?'
The YouTube Premium subscription allows you to download videos from YouTube, but only to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Thus, if you attempt to save a YouTube video to Mac, it won't help.
'Why can't I download YouTube videos?'
If you are going to download a private video or a video containing music, you may fail since these videos may give rise to copyright issues.
The Bottom Line
Among all the video download apps, which is the best YouTube downloader for you? Choose the one that fits your needs best to apply.
The Wondershare Video Converter for Mac supports video downloads from over 10,000 sites, including popular names like YouTube, DailyMotion, Lynda, Facebook, and many more. By default, the videos are downloaded in the source formats, but you can choose any other format as well in which you want the files to be downloaded. There is also an option to download an entire playlist or just download the MP3 version of the file.
Download Online Videos on Mac Easily and Quickly-Wondershare UniConverter (Mac) User Guide
Part 1. Best way to download YouTube videos to MP4 on Mac
The below guide shows the steps for downloading videos from YouTube to your computer. And the steps for downloading from the other sites are also the same.
Step 1 Choose Downloader at Wondershare UniConverter.
Run the installed Wondershare software on your PC, and from the main interface, click on the Downloader function from the left side of the panel.
Step 2 Copy the video URL to be downloaded.
Open the desired videos on the browser window of your Mac and copy its URL
Step 3 Paste URL and select downloading options.
Move back to the software interface and click on the sign that will automatically paste the copied link to the interface. After analyzing the link, a dialog box will open from where you need to select the format and the resolution in which you want the video to be downloaded. There is also an option to download the audio or the thumbnail if required. Choose if you want to download the subtitles and the language.
This dialog box appears whenever you paste a URL to the interface. In case if you want the selected settings as the default download options for all the files, you enable the checkbox next to Set my choices as the default and don’t show me again. Finally, click on the Download button.
Note: If you click on the Download then Convert button at the bottom-left corner, a pop-up window showing the supported formats will appear. You can choose the format and the resolution from this list, and when you paste the link to the interface, the download process will start straightway in the selected format.
Step 4 Download videos to Mac.
The video download process will now begin, and the status bar will show the remaining time and the other details. You can click on the Pause and the Start button to stop and restart the downloading. If multiple files are being downloaded, you the Pause All and Resume All button as needed.
The downloaded videos can be checked on the interface from the Finished tab.
Part 2. Steps to download YouTube playlist to MP4 on Mac
Wondershare UniConverter also allows downloading an entire YouTube Playlist to MP4 and other formats in simple steps. Below given is the guide for the same.
Step 1 Copy the link of the YouTube playlist.
Open the YouTube playlist that you want to download and copy its URL.
Step 2 Paste the link to the download section.
Open the software and select the Downloader option from the left-hand side list of main features. Next, click on the sign, and the copied URL will automatically paste to the software interface. A pop-up dialog box will now open from where you need to select the Download playlist option.
Step 3 Choose the songs and download them.
A pop-up window will open again, showing the list of the songs in the playlist. By default, all the songs are selected to be downloaded. You can de-select the ones that you do not want to download. Under Save as: tab, select Video option. Expand the drop-down menu at Desired video quality: and select from the available option.
Choose the system location to save the downloaded videos from the File Location: tab.
Finally, hit on the Download button, the software will start downloading your playlist songs, and the progress can be checked from the progress bar.
On the software interface, the downloaded songs appear on the Finished tab.
Part 3. How to download YouTube videos to MP3 on Mac
If you only want the audio file from your YouTube videos, Wondershare UniConverter has an option to download only the MP3 file. The steps for the same are as follows.
Step 1 Copy YouTube video URL.
Open the YouTube video on your Mac browser and copy its URL
Step 2 Launch Wondershare UniConverter and choose to download MP3.
Video Download For Mac
Open the software on your system, and from the supported list of functions on the left-side panel, select the Downloader option. Expand the drop-down menu at the sign and select the Download MP3 option. The copied link will automatically paste to the interface.
Step 3 Download MP3 and location the file.
The software will start downloading the MP3 from the YouTube video, and the progress can be checked.
Once the download process is complete, the MP3 file can be checked on the interface from the Finished tab while on the system it can be checked from the location selected at the File Location: